I am a self-designated Railroad Operations Archaeologist living in a retirement community whose campus once hosted two railroads: Cornwall/RDG and Cornwall and Lebanon/PRR. My specialty is digging up information about the operation of a railroad 40 or more years ago and then writing about it. So far I have done this for the Lehigh and Hudson River, Clinchfield and N&W and am working on the C&EI and the Virginian. My real operations interest is in the fields of dispatching, signaling, train control and interlockings/CTC. My interest in the Frisco has been piqued by reading again the article by Dan Overby and Patrick D Hiatte about the operations of the Springfield Yard back in 1980 (Trains, 1/81). Are either of these gentlemen still around and able to communicate with me? I would like to expand on their article by portraying all the trains on the territory controlled by the dispatchers in Springfield on March 3, 1980 at 12:01 pm. I would call it "High Noon on the Frisco." Not much before the end of the Frisco! A monumental task, even if I am able to locate the dispatcher's train sheets for that day (or one not too far away). Any help in this matter? By using the Forum I have already found a number of helpful items and will be seeking help from a number of the members, especially those who: Were there back in 1980 and working for the Frisco (any dispatchers?) Have collected material about that place and time. Perhaps you model this time and area. Are interested in the details about dispatching and CTC, or perhaps like to know where trains are and where they are going and why. I look forward to working with you! Glenn Fisher ROA
Glenn, I neither know him nor communicate with him, but Dan Overbey was director of the SE Missouri Regional Port Authority until his retirement a couple of years back. He may still be in the Cape Girardeau area.
Glenn, Welcome Aboard! Patrick Hiatte is still alive and well and living in New Bloomfield, Mo. His email address is his name (patrickhiatte) at gmail. Another person that might be of interest is Charlie Dischinger, charlie-choochoo at sbcglobal; he is a retired engineer and has taken lots of photographs. Karl Brand (karl) on this forum is a fount of knowledge as his father was a Roadmaster on a number of Subdivisions. Mark Davidson (mark) on this forum may be able to help some. Dispatcher sheets might be hard to come by. The only one I have ever seen is one from Newburg April 1944.
I met Dan Overbey a few years ago, when he was still at the Port Authority. I know he has since retired, but he does still have a listing in the Cape Girardeau telephone book (remember those?) GS
Thanks, gstout and klrwhizkid, I was able to contact Pat and Dan, and they both have been helpful. Glenn
Thanks to those of you who advised me how I might find Dan Overbey and Patrick Hiatte. I have found them both and they have been helpful, Glenn
